As promised, here comes a longer chapter!

I looked at Buckingham Palace while I stepped out of the limousine. This building was my home as a child, together with Windsor Castle. It felt like I had a million memories from here, but at the same time not.

My parents were just about to hire private teachers for my first year at "high school" when I left. I couldn't take being a prince anymore, couldn't stand my dad's punishments and how he yelled at me every day for not being good enough. However, I didn't want to seem ungrateful either. I knew I was lucky and I felt proud over my family for their hard work. This was just not a life for me. People waved, took photos and smiled at me wherever I went. My brother had always loved it, but I wasn't like him. I didn't want a life as a royal.

My dream had always been to become a singer. To be one would be incredible. Unreal, even. I loved to sing, but as a prince I didn't get many chances to do it in my busy schedule. I thought it might be different somewhere else. A small town in America seemed like a good option, so that was where I went.

Because of my phone, my parents found out pretty quickly where I went. It was not hard to track it, something I had forgotten about. However, I didn't mind. All my life, I had been known for being polite and obedient. Honestly, I felt really bad for what I did. I covered myself up, got on a plane and flew to America. It was so unlike me. But as soon as Kurt came into my life, everything felt almost forgotten.

"Your Highness? Shall we go inside?" Jack asked. Something in his voice made it clear that he had asked several times.

"Yes, of course," I said and started to walk, knowing everyone behind me took care of my luggage.

I felt quite nervous when Tony opened the doors to the palace. How would my family greet me after everything? Of course, we had stayed in touch by calling, but it was definitely not the same thing as meeting in person.

I went inside. My mom embraced me as soon as she saw me. In that moment, I realise how much I had missed her. I couldn't hold back my tears when she looked at me with a big smile through her owns. "I'm so glad you're home, Blaine," she said.

I smiled. "Me too."

A few moments later, I saw my dad and brother come against me. Cooper gave me a small smile, but my dad had his normal poker face on.

I looked at Cooper, unsure how to greet him. Our relationship had always been a little up and down. One day we could share a good laugh and another, we didn't even speak to each other. Luckily, I didn't have to think too long. Before I knew it, Cooper had embraced me in a big hug. "My little brother is back!" he exclaimed.

My dad cleared his throat. I quickly let go of Cooper.

"Son," he started and laid a hand on my shoulder. I swallowed hard. "I'm not happy for what you did, but I'm grateful that you came back. We do need you at the palace."

I nodded. I felt relieved that my family reacted with such an understanding.

"Why don't you go to your room and make yourself at home? We'll be eating soon," my mom said.

"Sure," I agreed and turned to face the people who were holding my luggage. "Thank you for your help, but I can take my bags from here."

"Of course, Your Highness," a woman said and handed them over to me.

I smiled at my family one last time before I went through the halls and corridors to come to my old room. I opened the door and froze. It felt so weird to be back. Everything looked exactly the same since for three years ago. It almost was like the time had stopped when I was gone.

I went inside and closed the door behind me. I laid a hand on the bed in my huge room and tried to take everything in. I was home. I was really home.

I sat down on the bed and let out a small sigh. Everything had happened so fast. Too fast. For only a few days ago, me and Kurt had talked about our future. Now I didn't know if we had one anymore.

In the next second, my dad opened the door. Of course, without knocking. I jumped up from the bed like it was illegal to sit on it.

"I've called the press. They'll interview you in five minutes."

"Okay, I'll come in a minute," I said.

He nodded and left.

It was weird how everything could go back to normal as soon as I put my foot in the palace. It made me think of why I left.

I looked at myself in the mirror at the wall. I looked tired. I had barely slept an hour last night, which was really obvious by only looking at me. Great.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself. With these four words I left my room and put on a big smile as soon as I saw the press. All the cameras were directed at me and I knew England was watching my every move. This would also be on YouTube for the rest of the world to see. If I did one single mistake, it could cost my family's reputation.

"Your Highness," the female reporter greeted. "It's good to see you back in the palace. It has been a while."

I nodded. "Yes, it feels really good to be back as well. I've missed London a lot."

"I hope you don't mind me asking, Your Highness, but where have you been?"

I do mind. "Of course not. I've been taking some time off to explore the world and in that way get some new ideas for how to make England better as a country."

"So you don't think England is good as it is?"

She tried to put me in a trap. Luckily, I was prepared. "I think England is a wonderful country and I'm so proud to represent it. I just believe there's always something you can do to improve and develop it. It's important to see you around in the world. In every place you will find something good, something that you can bring to your own home."

"That's very true, Your Highness," she said. "How long will you stay in England now?"

"As long as I can. There were a few people I didn't get to say goodbye to properly when I left to get back here."

"Oh, have any of these people a special place in your heart?" she asked and blinked at me.

I smiled a little. "You can say that."

After the interview, it was time to eat with my family.

"As you have understood, you need to be a distraction for a while," my mom said when we all sat around the table, ready to start eating.

"Yeah," I said. "Tony told me that Cooper had said some things to a woman in public. What happened exactly?"

Cooper sighed and leaned back in the chair. "I didn't mean it to happen. I thought I was alone with Jessica."

"Well, you wasn't," my dad said angrily and took a sip of his wine.

Cooper sighed again. "I was just outside the palace. It was pretty late. Jessica was a one-night stand, and I didn't think what we were doing would come out to the press."

I wasn't surprised at all. I knew as soon as Tony told me. When Cooper talked to a woman about things, it was always something dirty involved. "Really, Cooper? What were you thinking?" I exclaimed. "You can't just do something like that. You know that."

He didn't answer.

After we all had eaten up, I went to my room again. When I was just about to close my eyes for a nap, I saw my phone light up with a new message.

Kurt: I saw your interview.

My heart skipped a beat.

Me: Can we please talk?

It took a few minutes before he replayed: Okay.